The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) certified 150 boaters statewide after their eighth annual "Boating Education Lagniappe Day" on April 21.

Boating Education Lagniappe Day was at eight locations across the state and consisted of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) boating education course, food and drinks, giveaways and door prizes all free of charge to the public.

The NASBLA safe boating certification is mandatory for anybody born after Jan. 1, 1984 who wants to operate a motorboat in excess of 10 horsepower.

The NASBLA approved course includes information on choosing a boat, classification, hulls, motors, legal requirements and equipment requirements.  The course also covers many navigation rules and charts, trailering, sailboats, canoeing, personal watercraft and more.  Each student received that completed the course was issued a vessel operators certification card.

Below was the list of class locations for lagniappe day:

Webster Parish
LDWF Region 1 Office
9961 Hwy. 80
Minden, LA 71055
Sponsors include Red River Waterway Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bayou Bodcau Office, Bass Pro Shop of Bossier City, and The Boat Shop in Shreveport.

Ouachita Parish
Academy Sports and Outdoors
111 Constitution Dr.
West Monroe, LA 71292
Sponsors include Academy Sports and Outdoors and Johnny’s Pizza House.

Avoyelles Parish
Cottonport Bank Camp
1055 Old River Road
Mansura, LA 71350
Sponsors include Cottonport Bank, Avoyelles Parish School Board, Ronald and Faye Coco, and the Louisiana Wildlife Agent’s Association (LWAA)

Iberia Parish
LDWF New Iberia Field Office
2415 Darnall Rd.
New Iberia, LA 70560
Sponsors include Raising Cane’s and LWAA

Calcasieu Parish
LSU AgCenter
7101 Gulf Hwy.
Lake Charles, LA 70607
Sponsors include Beauregard Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited

Lafourche Parish
St. John Volunteer Fire Department
2429 Parish Rd.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
Sponsors include Renovations Hardware of Galliano and LWAA

Tangipahoa Parish
Manchac Fire Department
30221 Hwy. 51
Akers, LA 70421
Sponsors include LWAA and Manchac Fire Department

St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish Library Madisonville Branch
1123 Main Street
Madisonville, LA 70447
Sponsors include Raising Cane’s and the LWAA